Include artists, technicians in TV, OTT platforms under new labour codes: I&B ministry to labour ministry

The decision was taken after the parliamentary team of MPs and top officials in the government visited various studios in Mumbai, Hyderabad and other cities of country and observed that "the income level of many of workers" needs to revised.

NEW DELHI: In a move that can benefit hundreds of artists working in studios, writing scripts or making music for shows in both TV and web, the I&B ministry has proposed to bring artists and technicians working in OTT platforms such as Netflix, Hotstar and others, and those working in TV serials, under the new labour code on social security and welfare bill.

According to the new legislation being drafted by the labour ministry that could be put in place in the next few months, close to 50 crore workers from various sectors will be beneficiaries of a comprehensive social security cover, in a phased disbursement of benefits, which include retirement, health, old-age, disability, unemployment and maternity benefit.

The labour ministry had held consultations with the I&B ministry also in this regard, after which the latter had sent its recommendations.

The decision was taken after the parliamentary team of MPs and top officials in the government visited various studios in Mumbai, Hyderabad and other cities of country and observed that "the income level of many of workers" needs to revised and "mandatory safety norms have to be put in place." The ministry has mooted some modifications in the labour act for the welfare of cine workers after many deliberations among officials.

As of now, workers in the film industry come under the senior workers welfare fund act of 1991 but there are stringent rules of their work experience not being less than five feature films with their pay slab fixed at Rs 1600 per month which the I&B ministry felt needed to be revised to meet contemporary standards.

"The ministry has comprehensively looked at workers in all visual media platforms, which include TV, films and digital. This would also make it mandatory for employers to have safety norms in the places they work," an official said.

The ministry's response to labour ministry said, "In order to cover workers engaged in different activities of making of cinematographic films or TV serials or TV programme, the I&B ministry has proposed modifications in the Labour code on Social security and Welfare Bill."

Proposing that fifth schedule of the draft bill also include, the ministry said, "people from cinema, theatre, digital entertainment and advertising industry, also those employed employed directly or through any contractor or in any manner, in or in connection with pre-production, production and post production and exhibition of feature films, TV serials or web series or content to be shown on any OTT platform to work as an artist which include "actor, actress, musician, cinematograph, or any related work, skilled, unskilled, manual, supervisory, technical, artistic, content development, script writing or others.

The recommendations of the ministry includes both skilled and unskilled workers, and were made "keeping in mind the long hours and risks people employed by these new age media firms undergo," an official said. PM Narendra Modi too had a meeting with media entrepreneurs and veterans from the entertainment industry in Mumbai on Tuesday.

"When the labour codes were initially put in place, only film workers were taken into consideration. TV entertainment came to homes in 80s only and digital media was almost non existent, but today a large number of technicians and artists work in these areas. That is why, it was felt mandatory to include them," an official said.

Rise in digital content consumption, internet and smartphone penetration, diversified audiences and most importantly, a high number of national and international content production houses employing both skilled and unskilled talent were considered by the ministry while making the recommendations, an official added.